Open Water Diver Course

[iowahuskerkid]

Hi my husband is signed up to take the course in January. We were wondering if we should do the open dives here in Omaha or just do it in Florida while we are there in Feb. Do you have any recommendations for the West Palm Beach, Ft. Launderdale, Miami and the Keys area to complete the course?

[BottomDweller]

Hi!

I can't give you a recommendation as far as where to dive in Florida. As far as whether to do your open water cert. dives here or down there, though, just consider that if you want to do them here, you'll have to wait until May when the quarry opens again. You can ask your instructor for a referral and then do the OW dives in Florida. The quarry here is a great place to dive, but I guess if I were going to Florida anyway, I'd get the referral and do my OW's there. We hope to see you at the quarry in the spring, though!

[Scubagal]

Here's a couple dive ops that receive good reviews in the West Palm Beach area:
http://www.scuba-adventures.com/instruction.shtml
http://www.puravidadivers.com/learn_to_dive.html#owreferral
We went diving with Pura Vida in 2006. While it wasn't a stellar experience I think ours was the exception, not the rule.

[Wkndbum]

Hi my husband is signed up to take the course in January. We were wondering if we should do the open dives here in Omaha or just do it in Florida while we are there in Feb. Do you have any recommendations for the West Palm Beach, Ft. Launderdale, Miami and the Keys area to complete the course?

http://www.conchrepublicdivers.com/

I have never dove with these guys but I've visited with them quite a bit the past couple years @ the Chicago Dive show & have talked to some divers that said they were great. I know they are a friendly bunch & the next time I get to Florida, I will dive with them. I love this area of the Keys.

Terry

[Don]

Two thoughts here. If you want to dive in February, by all means go for it. The water will be in the 70's and the weather can be so-so. In waiting and diving locally, you'll be diving with the instructor who taught the class (ME as a rule). But if Florida is in your sights, Force E in West Palm is one place I would recommend. They seem to have their act together, or at least the last time I was down there. Force E has several stores. A boat charter will be required there.

By the by, thanks for signing up. I'll put you on the list, don't worry about the paper work or paying until mid December.